Day 7 at Sundance 2020

DREAM HORSE

The only reason to be curious about the new film "Dream Horse" is watching the two leads (Toni Collette and Damian Lewis) in action. Otherwise, this by-the-numbers story of a bored housewife who takes up horse breeding to inject some fun in her life is lifeless and dull. Even Collette and Lewis can't save the film, and it will leave you as bored as the lead character. Should your curiosity be peaked the film will be released theatrically in May.

Rating: C

US KIDS

Photo courtesy of Kim A Snyder Productions

This political documentary focuses on the survivors of the 2018 Parkland school shooting and their fight to institute stricter gun laws. The young students are interviewed, and some of their answers may shock you. Well constructed by director Kim A. Snyder, "Us Kids" shows how some of these young minds are more inspired and forward-thinking than the adults who claim to know better.

Rating: B+

BOYS STATE

This documentary focuses on the campaign of a thousand teenage boys from Texas who band together to change state policy and leadership. Focusing on a few of those many voices, "Boys State" is a gripping look at modern government and how some are willing to fight for change, regardless of which side of the aisle you're on.

Rating: B

LOST GIRLS

Amy Ryan ("Birdman") plays a lonely mother in search of her missing daughter in the new film "Lost Girls." When the police don't seem to care about the missing child, mom takes matters into her own hands, uncovering scandal and corruption along the way. Director Liz Garbus is mostly known for making documentaries and her skills tackling a feature-length project are sadly lacking. The film is slowly paced and full of confusing plot threads. Gabriel Byrne shows up in a supporting role but his presence, while welcome, is far too brief to spark the film to life.

Rating: C

HIS HOUSE

When a desperate couple flee their home in Sudan to begin a new life in a small English town, they get more than they bargained for upon moving into their new home. There is an evil presence lurking in this space, and it threatens to bring out the worst in the couple at it resurfaces old wounds and pushes them to their breaking point. "His House" is full of suspense and makes for a great addition to this year's midnight section.

Rating: B

SPACESHIP EARTH

Biosphere 2 was a huge undertaking in 1991. It was an experiment to recreate the earth's ecosystem, and house human life in complete isolation. As with most massive projects, nothing went according to plan. The documentary "Spaceship Earth" chronicles the best and worst of the process of launching Biosphere 2. The film uses many talking heads to take us behind the curtain, but in this case less would've been more; the film begins to meander in its second half.

Rating: C+

OKAVANGO: RIVER OF DREAMS (Director's Cut)

Photo courtesy of Terra Mater Factual Studios and Wildlife Films

A nature documentary in the vein of "Planet Earth," "Okavango" focuses on the lush plains of the Okavango Delta in Africa. Animals hunt and are hunted; survival is only meant for the strongest beasts in this ferocious wildlife habitat. Some scenes are graphic and not for the faint of heart, but as a whole, "Okavango" is a trip worth taking.

Rating: B-

BINTI

Young Binti and her dad Jovial are living a quiet life in Belgium, but are under the constant threat of deportation back to their native Congo. When they encounter a police raid, the duo are forced to hide out in a nearby rich neighborhood. It's at this location where Binti bonds with Elias, a rebellious young boy who quickly becomes friendly toward the precocious girl. Opposite worlds attract in this fun and charming drama.

Rating: B

THE PAINTER AND THE THIEF

An artist has her life's work stolen in the blink of an eye by a conniving stranger in the aptly titled, “The Painter and the Thief.” When things change, and the artist not only forgives the thief but also befriends this once complete stranger, humanity and emotion are fully examined with dynamic results.

Rating: B

SERGIO

The life of UN diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello deserves better than the melodramatic new film, "Sergio." As played by Wagner Moura ("Narcos"), the ambitious central character's internal struggle is mostly told in flashback, highlighting key moments of his life that lie flat on screen. Ana de Armas ("Knives Out") plays his love interest, and when the film isn’t focused on Sergio's political struggle with US forces, it flip flops back to an overblown soap opera between the two lovers. In the end, neither half fully works.

Rating: C

Marco Cerritos